Hub cap lock



March 16, l1937. B J; POWELL 2,073,851

' HUB `GAP Loox Filed Marh 14, V1.932

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Psitc Mn. 16, 1931 /zmassr v l mesne assignments, to Lyon Cover Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan i l Application March 14,

My invention relates to the locking of hub capsto the hubs of automotive vehicles, the invention being'particularly adaptable and useful 'where the bolts for supporting thewheel either on the 5 vehicle for service or aon a spare wheel carrier are located within the hub so that the hub cap must be removed in order to get access to the bolts.

I'he object of the invention is to provide im' proved and simplied means for readily and ehi-.-

l ciently locking the cap to the hub.

On the accompanying drawing, 1 is a cross-sectional View. of a Vwheel hub and capthereonand part of a spare wheel.

1 carrier structure;

l Figure 2 is anenlarged inside View of the cap structure; and

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional.

view of the cap structure showing the mounting and control of the locking element. The wheel structure shown comprises the hub 'body I0 formed of sheet metal, with the transversely eghtending bolt flange II within the body and providedI with bolt holes I2 for receiving the bolts which secure the wheel to the ve hicle'forl service or on a spare wheel carrier. I have shown' the hubmounted on a carrier structure comprising the body I3 and supporting means therefor such as a bracket I 4. Threaded studs |5 ext'end from the carrier body for registration with holes I2 in the boltflange of thewheel hub, one or more nuts I6 being applied to the studs 'I5 for holding the wheel to the carrier.

Inits front wall thehub `body has -the cylindrical opening through which access may be had by suitable tools for application or withdrawal l of the nuts I6 which secure the wheel either to the vehicle for service or to the spare wheel carrier. Such opening is usually closed by a cap structure. The cap structure shown comprises the outwardly convex body 8 which along itsouter edge Y is bent and deected .to form the abutment per .imeter` I9 and the cylindrical flange 20, the ange being of a diameter to extend through and t in'- the, opening I'I'andthe perimeter I9 dabutting against the outer wall of the hub around the# opening |'|.I

Y i The `cap body has the axial opening 2| there- 1932, serial No. 593,556 Y" 15 claims. (ci. 'zo-161)? gagement with the walls of the housingwhen the cylinder is forced thereinto and the cylinder will thereby be rigidly held in the housing.A The lock cylinder journals a lock barrel 21 which may be locked to or unlocked from thelock'cylinder by4 5 means of suitable tumblers (not shown) controlledby the insertion of the vproper key in -thekeyhole 28 in the barrel'. extends 'through the opening 29 formed in the The lock barrel bottom wall of the housingm 22, the outer end of the barrel being of polygonal cross-section which may be formed byslabbing oi opposite sides of the barrel end. The polygonal end 30 receives and .supports acam member 3| which, as shown is in the form of an oblong'plate of sheet metal 15 having an opening for receiving the polygonal end and havingthe ange 3 2 surrounding the opening for intimate engagement with the polygonal end 33. AOutside of the hub'ilange 32 the polygonal end 30 receives a washer 33 whichis held in place as by means of a cotter pin 34, a spring 35 being preferably inserted between the washer and the body of the member 3l so as to hold said member in bearing engagement with the rear end ofthe lock housing 22. Whena key is inserted in the lock barrel, the'lock barrel will be \unl ocked from the housing 22 and maythen be -Jlturned bythe key, and such turning will .cause rotational 4movement of the cam member 3 I The outer endsvof the cam member 3| are de flected laterallyto form cam flanges 36 which,

nas; shown, are concentric Vwith the axis 'of the vmember 3 I At c liametrically opposite sides of the can structure ange 2|! aresupported the lock-- ing members 3l, eachof which-isdn the form of a comparatively long fiat spring securedat its center to the flange 20 as by means of a-rivet38.

- At its end each-spring'm'ember is deflected outwardly radially to form lockinganges or lugs whose side edges are beveled as clearly` shown in Figure 1. In alignment with each springend or lug 3B is a slot lll, these slots being cut in the flange 2li/'pf the cap structure.

Thae actuating cam member 3| cooperates with the springlocking members to. control the locking orunlocking positions of the flat ends 39 thereof.' Referring to Figure 2, when the actuating member 3| extends horizontally its cam anges 36 will lie-away from the locking members and the tension of these spring members will'hold their ends radially inwardly with the latch ends 39 inside of the outer surface of the cap flange 2|).v When the actuating member 3|y is rotated to extend vertically as shown in Figure 2, the cani flanges 36 will engage with the free ends of the ends 39 thereof outwardly through the slots 4U in the ilange 20, and when the cap structure is applied to the hub, these ends 39 will engage against the inner side of the hub body wall around the opening I1 through which the flange 20 is extended. Preferably the ends of the spring locking members are deected inwardly to form contacts 4| for engagement by the flanges 36 on the actuating member 3l. To stop further movement of the actuating member after it has been rotated to locking position or unlocking position relative to the spring locking members, stops 42 and 43 are provided and these stops may be formed by deiiecting sections oi' the metal of the flange 20 inwardly. To prevent impact noise these stops may be provided with sleeves 44 of cushioning material such as rubber.

' Figure 1 shows the cap structure locked to the hub. When the cap is thus locked in place, access to the wheel supporting nuts or bolts will be shut off and theft of the wheel will be prevented whether the wheel isin service on theV vehicle or is secured to the carrier structure. If it is desired to remove a cap the proper key is inserted in the key hole of the lock barrel 2l andthe .barrel is then turned to swing the actuating member 3| away from the stop 42 and away from the ends of the spring locking members, further rotation of the member 3| in this direction being prevented by the, engagement thereof with the stop 43. Upon such rotation of the member 3l, the release spring locking members will withdraw their latch ends 39 suiiiciently so that the cap structure `may be removed through the opening I1 in the hub. When the cap is to be reapplied to the hub, it is inserted through the `opening I1' and the key is then turned to cause swing of the actuating member 3l into engagement with the stop 42, the cam yengagement of the members with the Avspring locking members then forcing the latch" ends 39 outwardly behind the iront wall of the hub body surrounding the opening l1 and the bevled edges of the latch ends 39 will have more or less wedging engagement with the hub f wall and will hold the cap with its perimeter I9 securelyyabutting against the outer wall of the hub.

To` conceal the' locklcylinder 21 and cover the lock barrel and key 'hole'against the weather, a

cap 45 may be'provided and pivoted at one end to' the iiange 23 of .the housing 22 by means of a rivet 46 so that when it is desired to insert the key the cap may be readily swung to one side.

I have shown a practical and efficient embodispring locking members and force the latching means for locking said actuating member against rotation after projection thereby of said latch ends, whereby to lock said cap to said hub.

. 2. The combination with the hub of an automotive v`ehicle wheel having an opening for access of tools for securing the wheel, of a. closure capV for said opening having a flange for extending inwardly through said opening when the cap is applied in closing position, said flange having slots, latch members supported on said flange and having latch ends adapted to be projected through said slots into interlocking engagement with the hub' wall surrounding the flange 4receiving opening, spring means tending to hold said latch ends in unlocking position, an actuating member mounted on said cap to be moved to force the latch ends against said spring means and through said slots for interlocking engagement with the hub wall to thereby lock the cap to the hub, andy means for locking said 'actuating member.

3. The combination with the hub of. an automotive vehicle wheel having an access opening for tools for securing the wheel to a support, of a closure. cap for said opening, said cap having a flange for extending through said opening into the. hub and being provided with slots, spring locking members mounted on said flange and having latched ends in register with said slots, the spring action of said locking members normally holding the latch ends withdrawn from said slots, a rotary member on said cap, and an actuating member rotatable with said rotaryy member to engage said spring locking members to project their latch ends through said slots into interlocking engagement with thehub wall to thereby lock the cap`l to the hub.

4. The combination with the hub of an automotive vehicle vwheel having an access opening for tools for securing the wheel toa support, of

, a closurecap for said'opening havinga ilange ment of the various -features of my invention but Ldo not desire to be limited to'the exact construction, arrangement'and operation shown and described as changes and modifications may readily be 'made without departing from the scope of the invention as outlined' by the appended claims.

I claimas follows: Y 1. The combination with the hub of an autos motive vehicle wheel\having an opening in its thereon for extending through said opening and being provided with slots, spring locking members secured tosaid ange and having latch ends lin register with .said slots, the spring action of said locking members normally withholding the latch ends from said slots, a housing on said cap, a lock cylinder secured in said housing, a key controlled lock barrel in said lock cylinder, and an 'actuating member mounted on said lock barrel to rotate therewith and having engaging surfaces for engaging said spring locking members to .project their latch ends through said slotsand into locking engagement with the wall of said hub thereby to lock the cap to the hub.

5. A hub cap for automotive vehicle wheels having an annular flange 'extending therefrom for projection through the hub opening to be covered, lcircumferentially extending spring lock members mounted on said iiange, a housing extending inwardly. from the central part of the cap, a lock cylinder in said housing having a key operable lock barrel, and 'an actuating member connected with ,the inner end of said lock barrel to rotate therewith, said actuating member having surfaces for cooperating with said lock members to move them into interlocking engagement with the hub wall to thereby lock the cap thereto.

6. The vcombination with the hub of an automobile wheel having an opening in its front wall, of a closure cap for said opening having a iiange for projecting through said opening, latch members on-said liange and means for holding said members normally within the` outery surface of said flange, an actuating member rotatably mounted on said cap and extending radially, and

y latch members into interlocking engagement with of said ange, a lock cylinder supported axially on said cap and having a key operable lock barrel therein, and a disc supported on the inner' end of said lock barrel and having a surface for engaging with said latch members when said lock barrel is turned to cause radial movement of said the hub walls surrounding the ange receiving opening.

8. The combination with the hub of an automobile wheel having an opening in its front wall, of aclosure cap for said opening having an flange for ,projecting through said opening, latch members on said flange and means for yieldably holding said members normally in inner position to permit projection of said flange through said opening, an actuating member rotatably mounted on said cap and extending radially, and keycontrolled means for' rotating said actuating member into engagement with said latch members to shift them outwardly into interlocking engagement .with the hub wall surrounding said flange receiving opening.

9. In combination, a wheel hub having an opening, a hub cap having a ange for extending through said opening, radially shiftable lock members supported on said cap and said cap iiange having guide passageways for theA ends of said locking members, yielding means tending.

normally to hold said lock members in unlocking position in said guide passageways to thereby permit extension of said iiange through said opening, an actuating member'adapted upon rotational movement to cause radial outward shift of said locking members to Vlocking position,`the outer ends of said locking members when in :locking position being projected behind the hub ing position.

wall surrounding the hub openingv wherebyto lock the cap to the hub, and key-controlled means for locking said actuating member l,after rotation thereof to shiftsaid locking members to lock- 10. In combination, a wheel hub having `an opening, a hub cap having a flange for extending through said opening, radially shiftable lock members supported on said capI and said cap flange having guide passageways for the' ends of said locking members, yielding means tending to normally hold said locking members in unlocking position `in said guide' passageways to thereby permit extension of said ange through said opening, an actuating member adapted upon rotational movement to-cause radial outward shift of said locking members to locking position, the outer ends of said locking memberswhen in locking position being projected behind the hub walls surrounding the hub opening whereby `to lock the cap to the hub, a housing supported by said cap, a rotatable member journaled in said housing and connected with said actuating member,

and means for locking said rotational member against rotation after actuation thereby of said actuating member to shift said locking members to locking position. 11. In` combination with a cover. cap having a disk-like body and an annular iiange near thel periphery of said body together with a radially movablespring latch mounted on the inner side of said flange and projecting radially -therethrough to secure the cap in its operative posi- -tio; a locking device comprising a relatively fixed abutment within the cap, a substantially rigidstructure adapted to be interposed between the abutment and the latch to prevent radial inward movement thereof, and means to move said rigid 'structure into and out of operative position.

12. `In combination with a cover cap having a disk-like body and an annular iiange near the periphery of said body together with a radiallymovable spring latch mounted on the inner side of said flange and projecting radially therethrough to secure the cap in its operative position; a locking device comprising a relatively xed abutment within the cap, a substantially rigid structure adapted to be interposed between the abutment and the latch to prevent radial inward movement thereof, and a key-operated locking' member for moving said rigid structure into and out of abutting position.

13. The combination with an automobile vehicle wheel hub having an opening. of a closure for said opening, said closure having means for projecting in the hub, said closure having latch means normally resiliently held substantially within the outer surface of the projecting means. actuating means movably carried by said closure for engagement with said latch means to project the latter .into interlocking relation with the hub at said opening, and means for thereafter locking said latch means in said relationA and thereby locking said closure to said hub.

,14. The combination with a vehicle wheel hub having an opening for access of tools for securing the wheel, of a closure for said-opening, said closure having slotted means for extending in said opening when the closure is in closing position, latch means carried by Said closure andadapted to be projected through said slotted'- means into interlocking relation to the hub at said opening spring means urging said latch means into unlocking position, said cap carrying actuating means movable to force said latch means against said spring means and through said slotted means into said relation to thereby hold the closure in closing position, and means for locking said actuating means.

15. The combination with a vehicle wheel'hub having an opening for access of tools for securing the wheel, of a closure for said opening, said closure having slotted means for extending in said opening when the closure is in closing position, latch means carried by said closure and adapted to be projected through said slotted means into interlocking relation to the hub at said opening, spring means urging said latch means into unlocking position. said cap carrying` actuating means movable to force said latch means against Asaid spring means and through -said slotted means-.into said relation to thereby hold the closure in closing position.

BURNET J. POWELL. 

